Domestic appliance



May 27, 1930. R. L. LEE 1,759,947

DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Filed Jan. 14, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 90 81 55 /M %M O 9/ [7 25 Izzy-F5555 May 27, 1930. R. L. LEE 1,759,947

Q DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Filed Jan. 14, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 27, 1930 UNITEDY'VSFTATES PATENT OFFICE RALPH L. LEE, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO DELCO-LIGHT COMPANY, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Application filed January 14, 1924. Serial No. 686,125.

This invention relates to suction cleaning apparatus of the typewherein a suction nozzle associated with a suction pump is moved by a suitable handle over a surface to be cleaned and the dust-laden air discharged from the pump enters a container, which traps or separates the dust and allows practically clean air to escape to the surrounding atmosphere.

In apparatus of this type constructed for domestic use the dust container is generally a bag of porous fabric material which is woven closely enough to trap most of the dust in the air which enters the bag, the bag, being suiticiently porous to permit the air to escape. It is well known that unless the dust bag is emptied and cleaned out frequently so much dust will collect'therein that the flow ofair through the bag to the surrounding atmosphere will be seriously interfered with. This will tend to build up back pressure in the suction pump and reduce the degree of suction at the suction cleaning nozzle.

It is one of the objects of the invention to separate and trap the dust in the air which'is discharged from the suction pump and at the same time provide a free passage of air'from the suction pump to the surrounding atmosphere, the dust container receiving a substantial quantity of dustwithout interfering at any time with the operation of the suction pump so that the dust container need be emptied only occasionally.

As a means of accomplishing this object, the invention provides a power driven dust separator particularly adapted for use with a suction cleaner of the conventional type in place of the usual cloth bag attached to the outlet of the suction pump. The invention provides means for manipulating the sucti on cleaner over a surface to be cleaned, and includes a motor driven centrifugal dust separator which is located between the suction pump and a handle portion extending from the dust separator. The invention includes a dust container which is easily removable from the suction cleaning apparatus. A single electric switch located on the dust separator controls the electric motor which operates respectively, the suction pump and dust 50 separator.

Further objects and advantages of the pres ent invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of one form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation partly in section, of a suction cleaner of the conventional type provided with a form of the present invention which is shown in longtiudinal section.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view looking in the direction of arrow 2 in Fig. 1, of a portion of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is an assembly view of the dust container and motor driven air agitator in position for remo al of dust from the container.

Fig. 4 is a sectional viewon the line 44 of Fig. 1, this section being on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a suction cleaner having attached thereto the invention. shown in the preceding views.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 6, this section being taken substantially on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 5 of the drawings, a suction cleaner 40 supported by wheels 21 and 22 includes a nozzle 23 communicating with a suction pump 24 having a discharge 25. The pump 24 includes a suction fan 26 driven by a motor 27. The fan 26 is connected by pulleys 28 and 29, and belt 30 with a revolving brush 31. The discharge pipe 25 is rovided with a flange 32 connected by flexib e tubing 33 with a flange 34 attached to a pipe 35. The flange 34 is provided with cars 36 which pivotally support threaded rods 37 which are received by notched lugs 38 attached to the exterior of a dust container 40. Nuts 39 cooperate with rods 27 to clamp the container 40 to the flange 34.

A pipe 41 providing the inlet to container 40 is attached to said container and receives the pipe 35. The outlet of pipe 41 includes means for causing air issuing from the pipe 41 to be deflected toward the side evalls of the container 40 and to cause this air to be given a swirling motion. This means includes a deflector 42 by means of which the air is caused to move from the pipe 41 in the direction of arrows 43, and includes curved vanes 44 shown in ig. 4 which cause the air to take up a swirling motion as indicated by the arrow 45. The outer or free end of the container 40 is closed by frame 50 hinged at 51 and clamped in position by means of a bolt 52 pivotally attached at 53 to the frame 40 and received by notched lug 54 similar to the lugs 38. A nut 55 cooperates with the bolt 52 to clamp the frame 50 as a cover ainst the outer end of the container 40. e frame 50 includes an end wall 56 providing a bearing for the shaft 57 of an electric motor 58 having a field frame 59 which is detachably secured to the frame 50 in any suitable manner. The frame 50 includes an apertured end wall 60 outside of which is located a propeller 61 secured to the shaft 57. Propeller 61 includes radially extending vanes 62. The cylindrical wall 63 between the end walls of frame 50 is provided with openings 64. The shaft 57 has also a bearing in the field frame 58.

A handle by means of which the cleaner may be manipulated is attached in any suit able manner to the frame 59 of the electric motor.

The frame 59 supports an electric switch connected by flexible cable 81 with a suitable convenience outlet in the floor or wall. The switch 80 is connected in a suitable manner with the electric motor 58 by means of a flexible cable 82 supported by a clip 83 from the container 40. Cable 82 is connected with a plug 84 received by socket 85 attached to the motor 27.

The mode of operation of the invention is as follows: The cleaning apparatus may be moved over a surface by manipulating the handle 70 extending from the dust separating attachment. The flanges 32 and 34 are pivotally connected by means of lugs and 91, see Figs. 5 and 1, so that. the container 40, the frames 50 and 59, and the handle 70 cooperate as a single rigid manipulating member pivotally attached to the suction cleaner. It is obvious that the cleaner may be moved about by manipulating the handle portion 70. When the switch 80 is closed the motors 27 and 58 will both operate. The motor 26 will revolve the suction fan 27 and the brush 31. Dust-laden air will be discharged in the pipe 41 and this air will be deflected as previously explained against the side walls 40 and will be given a swirling motion. This motion will be increased by the operation of the propeller 61 driven by the motor 58. Air practically free of dust will be discharged from the openings 64. After a substantial quantity of dust has been collected in the container 40, it is removed from the cleaner and'may be carried to a place for emptying. Removal of the container 40 is accomplished by unloosening thumb nuts 39 so that the rods 37 may be swung clear of the lugs 38. Then the attachment may be removed as a unit from the flange 34 and pipe 35. In order to empty the container 40 the nut 55 is loosened so that the rod 52 may be swung free of the lug 54. With the parts 40 and 70 in the position shown in Fig. 3, the dust may be emptied from the container.

It is obvious that inorder to remove the container to a suitable place for emptying the plug and socket connections 84 and 85 are detached and then thecontainer may be removed if desired by carrying it by the handle 70.

A modified form of the invention is shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The operation and construction of this form of the invention is similar to that already described. The principal diflerence is that the container only is removed from the rest of the apparatus for dumping, thus leaving the handle portion 7 0 and the dust separator motor 58 attached to the suction sweeper. Inorder to accomplish this object the container, which is designated by numeral 40 in Fig. 7, is removably clamped between the flange member 34 and the frame 50 to which the motor 58 is attached. The frame 50 may be separated from the flange 34 without disconnecting these parts entirely, so that the container 4O may be slipped out from between the flange 34 and the frame 50*.

The flange 34 does not carry a pipe-35 as shown inFig. 1, but is apertured to receive the end of pipe 41 which is similar to pipe 41 in function, but extends through the flange 34 Pipe 41 is attached to the container 40 and is provided with the deflector42 and the vanes 44 as in the first form of the invention. A gasket 41 is located between the container 40 and the flange 34 The frame 50 includes a non-aperturedend Wall 56 and a cylindrical wall 63 provided with openings 64*. The wall 63 supports an apertured partition 60, outside of which is located the air propelling fan 61 having radially extending blades 62. This fan is driven by the motor 58 as in the first form of the invention. The wall 63 is shaped so as to receive the'flared end 40 of the container 40. i

The means for clampinga container 40 between the frame 50 and the flange 34 includes rods 100 having threaded engagement at 101 with a flange 34 and having the other ends extending through apertured lugs 102 extending from the wall 56 and parallel to the wall 63*. The outer ends of the rods 100 are threaded-to receive nuts 103. By tightening the nuts 103 the container 40* will be clamped between the wall 63 and the flange 34 By unloosening the nuts 103 and screw ing them out along the rods 100, the frame 50" may be separated from the flange 34' sulficiently to permit removal of the container 40*. This form of the invention has certain advantages since it is necessary to carry only the container 40*? to a place where the dust may be dumped.- 1

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is'as follows:

1. A dust separator comprising, in combination, an elongated dust container, a pipe extending into the container lengthwise thereof, a stationary directing member for imparting a swirling motion to air leaving said pipe, and a power driven propeller to increase the swirling motion of said air.

2. A dust separator comprising, in combination, a dust container, a pipe extending within the container for conducting dust laden air to the'container, a stationar member supported by the pipe adjacent t e outlet thereof for directing air leaving the pipe toward the side wall of the container and for imparting a swirling motion thereto, and a power driven propeller to increase the swirling motion of said air.

3. A du'st separator comprising, in combination, a dust container for the reception of dust laden air, a pipe for conducting dust- Iaden air to the container, said container having for the inlet the outlet of said pipe and,having an outlet opening so arranged that the air entering/ from sa1d pipe moves in the same general direction through the container in its passage to said outlet opening, and means for imparting a dust separating swirling motion to the air within the container, said means comprising a stationary directing member associated with said pipe and a power-driven propeller for intensifying separation of the dust from the air in said container. 7 v

In testimony whereof I hereto aflix my signature.

RAIIPHL. LEE. 

